Life, 1889-06-06 · page 12 of 20
Life — June 6, 1889 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire Analysis This page contains multiple satirical pieces mocking contemporary figures and social issues: **Sullivan's Preparation**: The main article ridicules boxer John L. Sullivan's training routine before a planned fight with Jacob Kilrain. The humor lies in the absurdly genteel, un-athletic activities listed (gathering daisies, milking cows, reading George Eliot)—presenting Sullivan as an intellectual rather than a fighter, likely mocking his pretensions to "Boston culture" despite being a professional boxer. **The cartoons** address labor and class issues: one depicts an Irish landlord refusing rent to a poor widow while claiming sympathy for Ireland; another shows organ-grinders complaining about monopolies and street obstacles. **Victoria Vokes paragraph**: This discusses an actress following her sister Rosina's theatrical success, questioning whether Victoria can replicate that achievement. The overall tone is that of 1880s American satirical journalism—mixing celebrity gossip, labor criticism, and ethnic humor (Irish and Italian stereotypes present).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIFE: MR. SULLIVAN'S PREPARATION. OHN L. SULLIVAN, Esquire, a leading exponent of J Boston culture, and Mr. Jacob Kilrain, of Baltimore, will meet some time this month, presumably in the vicinity of New Orleans, to indulge in a conclusive argument on certain points which have never yet been settled to the satis- faction of the world at large. Mr. Sullivan has retired to a quiet, sylvan retreat in the western part of New York to prepare himself for the discussion, and we feel sure we are gratifying only a natural curiosity on the part of our readers when we inform them how he passes his time. The days are all spent according to the following schedule : 6 A.M. Family prayers. 6.15. Gathering the daily supply of buttercups and daisies. 6.45. Breakfast. 7.30. Milking the cows and hunting eggs. 8.15. Talking against an echo. 10.45. Discussions @ /a Socrates. 11.45. Conversation with a disconnected telephone. 12.30. Lessons from the Woman with the Iron Jaw. 1 p.M. Dinner. 1.45. Practice in writing challenges and defiances. 2.30. Exercise at the churn. 2.45. Study of chapter on “ Fouls” in London Prize Ring Rules. 3.15. Reading aloud from the works of George Eliot and Robert Browning. 3.30. Practice in finding reasons for not fighting. 4.30. Reception of visiting newspaper men, and explanation to them of how long it will take to annihilate Mr. Kilrain. Sparring and wrestling. Sherry and egg. . Supper. 7.00. Five-cent ante, quarter limit. 11.30. (Unless there is an undecided-jack-pot) Bed. Metcalfe. T is announced that Miss Victoria Vokes, spurred to the enterprise by the recent successes of her sister, is com- ing to this country asa star. It is possible that she will be able to parallel the artistic and financial triumphs of Miss Rosina Vokes, but it is more than doubtful. Even in the old days, when the entire family played together, Rosina was more than half the performance, and her Baréara in “ The Belles of the Kitchen ” is still a cherished recollection among theatre-goers. More than this, in her new career as a star, Rosina Vokes has given us what is to the public of to-day a practically new kind of entertainment. Even if Victoria Vokes provides a similar and equally good collection of par- lor sketches, they will lack the novelty of the delicious dra- matic tit-bits which her sister gives us. PROSPERITY BRINGS ITS WOES. HE WIDOW STARVELEY: I can’t see, Mr. Houli- han, why you can’t wait a couple of days for my rent. The papers say you sympathize with the poor of Ireland. HOULIHAN: Huh! Do yez suppose that the people av this great, proshperous counthry are to be treated on the same basis as the down-trodden Oirish ? AN UP-HILL STRUGGLE. IRST ORGAN-GRINDER: Ah, Signore, how you getta long, eh? SECOND ORGAN-GRINDER: Vara bad! _I beginna to-day ze tens scena of ze second part of ze “ Nibelunga””—what you calla? I break already fife barrel and killa two monk ; but ze people will have ze dama Vagna, basta!” WHEN THEY DO IT. UAVER: I wonder when these street bands get the chance to practice together, since their members, I am told, have other occupation during the day. SURETOANE (covering his ears): Now! ANOTHER BLOW AT A GRINDING MONOPOLY. “WELL, DaT’s WOT DEY GIT FO’ PUTTIN’ DEM TELEGRAPH POLES SO NEAR DE TRACK.” comicbooks.com